Leptospirosis: Should I be scared?!

As you may already be aware, there have been five recent cases reported of Leptospirosis in dogs around the inner-city area of Sydney. We understand that this would cause a lot of concern for all dog owners in the inner west as such we have put together this short summary to shed some light on the chances of your dog coming into contact with the bacteria as well as what symptoms to look out for if you suspect your dog may have it.

What is Leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is a disease caused by the bacteria Leptospira. Leptospirosis has many different strains (also known as serovars). Each serovar infects different animals including dogs, cattle, pigs and horses. Leptospirosis is very responsive to current antibiotics but organ failure can result in death.
Leptospirosis does NOT affect cats.

It is more common in Queensland where it is humid and warm and generally less of a risk in Sydney. It is spread through the urine of rats (disease hosts) and infected dogs, and the bacteria can live for months to years in soil and water.

Want more information? We’ve put together a printer friendly handout for you to keep handy!

What is Myxomatosis and how do I keep my rabbit safe?

There has recently been an emergence of Myxomatosis affecting rabbits in the innerwest, if you are a rabbit owner you might want to read the following to ensure your furry friend stays safe and healthy.

About Myxomatosis

Myxomatosis was a virus introduced to Australia in the 50’s to control the feral rabbit population, unfortunately it is still prevalent today and can affect domesticated rabbits. Successful treatment for it is rare in affected rabbits and once present it has a rapid progression leading to death within 14 days. As such, prevention is the key focus when tackling Myxomatosis.

How is it spread?

Myxomatosis can be transferred via the affected rabbit coming into close contact with other rabbits. It can also be transferred by insect bites such as from mosquitoes or fleas.

Can I vaccinate my rabbit against it?

Unfortunately there are no vaccinations available in Australia to protect against Myxomatosis however there are a few safety measures available to keep your rabbit as safe as possible.

 

An example of a mosquito proofed hutch

  • Install a fly/insect net around your rabbits outdoor enclosures
  • Keep your rabbit indoors especially during summer or in the early mornings and evenings when mosquitos and fleas are most prominent.
  •  Stay up to date with your rabbits flea protection – speak to your vet about which product and dosage is safe for your rabbit as certain flea-preventative medications can have adverse affects on rabbits.
  • Ask your vet about rabbit friendly insect-repellant.

How do I know if my rabbit is affected?

If you suspect your rabbit may have the virus it is important to bring it to a vet ASAP to prevent its suffering and to separate it immediately from other rabbits.

Common symptoms to look out for include:

  • Pus-like discharge from eyes, nose, genitals and anus

    Watery eyes in affected rabbit

  • Watery eyes
  • Swollen eyes and genitals
  • Inappetence
  • High fever
  • Drooping and swollen ears
  • Laboured breathing in more advanced stages

(More symptom pictures and further information on rabbit vaccinations)

 

 

 

CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO VACCINATE?

Apart from the distress and suffering these diseases can cause your pet …

cost of a vaccine – approx. $100 per year, varies with patient species & choice of vaccine

cost of 1 week hospitalisation & intensive care with parvovirus – up to $2,000

cost of antiviral ointments and specialist treatment of eye ulcers from feline herpes virus – up to $1,000

cost of medicines to treat  on-going skin, ear, eye & respiratory infections in an FIV+  cat – easily $300 per year

cost of ……

What’s more, each vaccination appointment at Summerhill Village Vet includes a full vet health check for every pet, which allows us to keep an eye out for any other issues.  By providing an “excuse” to visit for a check-up each year, a vaccination could end up saving your pet’s life in more ways than one.

BUT WAIT….THERE’S MORE!

IMG_0472Apart from saving pets’ lives and their owners from heartache and hefty treatment bills, a vaccination certificate can open doors and make life run more smoothly for pets & owners on the go.  For the protection of the animals in their care, all boarding facilities have strict policies that require proof of vaccination before animals can be booked in. Finding a spot in a good cattery or kennel can be difficult and stressful enough during a busy holiday period or if you have to go into hospital unexpectedly, without being caught out at the last minute for not meeting this requirement. Similarly, doggy day care, grooming parlours and obedience schools usually enforce a vaccination rule too. And for any pets with a bent for globetrotting wanderlust … you guessed it; flying overseas with an airline or pet transport company definitely requires a current vaccination status and Fido and Fluffy will not get far without those all-important antibodies packed safely on board. And for any proud owners with a gorgeous pooch that they’re itching to show off at a dog show, a missing vaccination could be the only thing standing between you and that elusive blue ribbon.

WHAT ABOUT INDOOR PETS?

IMG_6401Even for pets who live a sheltered or indoor lifestyle, vaccination is a great way to insure against the unexpected, or worst case scenarios. Despite how secure a property may appear, we hear many stories about stray animals entering peoples’ yards or houses when they are out, potentially bringing in disease. If a pet escapes and runs away, we have little control over where they might go or whom they will meet. If an unvaccinated runaway pet ends up in a shelter or a pound, they could also be vulnerable, because cat flu, kennel cough and parvovirus are often rife in these places.

Patting a neighbourhood cat or dog & then coming home to your pet can also bring home some dangerous viruses, let alone walking in dog poo on the streets.

An isolated pet who isn’t vaccinated and doesn’t meet the wild viruses when out and about doesn’t get their immunity boosted and if they have to go to the Vet because they’re sick or injured they are suddenly put into a high risk environment.

PROVIDING PROOF

A veterinarian-issued vaccination certificate is all your pet needs as proof of that all-important immune status required by so many pet-care places. As an alternative to obtaining repeated boosters each year, pet owners can also choose to get their pet’s antibody levels, or titre measured and confirmed with a lab report. This report or letter can then be used in lieu of a vaccination certificate.  Up until recently, getting a pet’s titre tested cost more than a booster shot, and also took a lot longer because vets needed to send the sample to a lab. Butthings may be about to change, as a new kit has recently been developed that will allow Aussie vets to test for titres in-house and what’s more, will deliver those results in 20 minutes. “Vaccicheck” tests will be able to test for antibodies for all viruses that the C3 vaccine protects against and may turn out to be a very handy addition for clinics and their clients.

BUT ARE VACCINATIONS SAFE?

A wide range of vaccine reactions have been observed by pet owners, but the vast majority of them are short-lived and certainly not life-threatening. Complaints such as tiredness, restlessness, sneezing, runny noses, itchy skin or an upset tummy make up the vast majority of vaccine reactions reported to the Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) each year, as well as issues caused by the injection at the site such as pain, swelling, hair loss, small lumps, or abscesses. According to the APVMA, the likelihood of getting any of these signs after a vaccination is about 1 in 20,000 for cats and 1 in 30,000 for dogs, based on recent Australian data. For both species, the chance of a severe reaction is VERY RARE perhaps 1 in 100,000 could entail allergic/anaphylactic reactions, inflammation of the joints, haemolytic anaemia, fluid on the lungs or heart rhythm and blood pressure changes. The good news is that even these severe symptoms are treatable with appropriate emergency care, and are often preventable with a prophylactic (ie. a preventative treatment) such as an antihistamine prior to vaccination, in pets who are known or suspected to have allergic reactions. For this reason, it is not considered best practice to leave a pet unattended following a vaccination.  In terms of the big picture, the risks are very small, and compared with the prospect of a painful death or a lifetime of constant illness from a preventable disease, the choice is not so daunting.

AND DO THEY WORK?

Since the Distemper vaccine was released in the 1960’s, cases of this disease in Australia have dwindled away, to the point where it is virtually eradicated, and most vets practicing today have never even seen a single case. Unfortunately, the war with Parvo has not been quite as successful, as this virus survives much longer in the environment than distemper virus, and spreads so quickly and effectively. One only has to compare a clinic in a low vaccination area to one in a high vaccination area, to see how effective this preventative measure truly is. Without fail, every clinic in an area where vaccinations are neglected, will deal with regular cases of this chilling disease. We are blessed and thankful at Summer Hill that it is rarely a part of our lives and would like to congratulate all of our clients for being so diligent in keeping their pets safe!

SOURCES
https://vaccicheck.com/
http://apvma.gov.au/node/10946
https://www.ava.com.au/policy-advocacy/policies/unusual-pets-and-avian/vaccination-of-rabbits-and-ferrets/
https://www.wellpet.com.au/veterinary-services/vaccinations/
http://sydneypetresort.com.au/boarding/
http://www.happypawsfitness.com/dog-day-care-studio/
http://royalrover.com.au/care
http://dogsplay.com.au/#daycare
http://dogsempire.com.au/what-we-do/

thanks to Brigitte Duffield final year Vet student in 2017 for this excellent document!

How to save your pet’s life AKA Vaccination Recommendations

It might surprise you to know that many loving pet parents fail to protect their pet against unpleasant, painful and even potentially fatal diseases.

As your pet’s Veterinarian it’s our job to give you all the help we can to protect them from these diseases. One of the best ways we can do this with the most serious ones is by vaccination.

Even if you take your pet to the Vet regularly, there may be special circumstances where your little one needs additional protection. We understand that there is a lot of information available about vaccines, some of this is valid scientific data and some is speculation. We have provided the following as a guide to summarise the most important information on who needs which vaccine.

If you would like to confirm your pet is protected, please give us a call on 9797 2555 or drop us an email at contact@summerhillvillagevet.com

The curious may read on!

Protecting Dogs

Bonnie

All dogs should be vaccinated against 3 very serious diseases: the “core vaccination”

  1. Parvovirus
  2. Distemper
  3. Hepatitis

The vaccine for these diseases should be given several times as a puppy and ongoing into adulthood. After the first yearly booster is given (usually around the time your dog is 15 months of age) there is an option to continue with yearly boosters OR a 3 yearly booster OR have a yearly blood test to ensure your dog has adequate antibodies. At Summer Hill Village Vet we offer all 3 options, but most people just have the yearly booster with their annual check up.

Any dogs that socialise with other dogs either in the street, through the fence, at the park, in doggy daycare or kennels should be vaccinated against kennel cough. The agents covered by this vaccine are:

  1. Parainfluenza
  2. Bordatella

Because our inner west doggies tend to be very sociable we routinely vaccinate all dogs at Summer Hill Village Vet for kennel cough.

If your dog has been given a current C5 vaccine they are protected against all of the diseases discussed so far!

Less common diseases we may also vaccinate against:

  1. Coronavirus: Very young puppies are mainly at risk of contracting this disease. It does not cause significant disease in adults as most fully-grown dogs have been exposed and are immune to it. We may recommend vaccination against Coronavirus to breeders or for young shelter animals if we think they are at risk. Not needed for all other dogs.
  1. Leptospirosis: A nasty but not very common disease. We generally won’t include this in a routine vaccination unless the animal is in an environment rife with rats which are the most common carriers of this disease in our area. It can be transmitted in rat urine and is also found in the urine of some farm animals. So, dogs spending time on dairy farms and the like should be vaccinated against this.
  2. Rabies …not found in Australia!! However, Sandra at Summer Hill Village Vet is registered to administer the rabies vaccination to animals that are travelling to destinations overseas.

Protecting Cats

Ralph

All cats should be vaccinated against 3 serious diseases:

  1. Panleucopenia
  2. Herpesvirus
  3. Calicivirus

The vaccine for these diseases is a core one and should be given several times as a kitten and ongoing into adulthood. After the first yearly booster is given (usually around the time your cat is about 15 months of age) we continue to give the herpesvirus and calicivirusvaccine every year, and the panleucopeniaone every 3 years. Previous recommendations of 3 yearly vaccines for cats are NOT adequate for herpesvirus and calicivirus!

If your cat has been given a current F3 vaccine they have some protection against all of these diseases!

Other diseases we may vaccinate against:

  1. Chlamydia: Can be a common cause of flu-like symptoms in cats but is mainly a disease we see in shelters and breeding catteries. We may recommend a vaccine against this to those we think are at risk but it’s generally not included in the yearly vaccine for most cats.
  1. Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV): Not a common disease but always a fatal one. If you’re acquiring a cat and you are unsure of its history it should be tested for this. We do a simple blood test on the spot to screen for this and the FIV virus. If your cat is negative we then assess if they will be at risk of getting the virus. Cats can be vaccinated yearly for this if indicated. It’s mainly a disease of multicat households including breeding catteries. FeLV is generally not included in the yearly vaccine for most cats.
  1. FIV (or Feline AIDS): This vaccine should be given to any cat that is at risk of fighting with other cats. This means we recommend this vaccine for any cat this is allowed outside. Strictly indoor cats DO NOT need this vaccine.It has come to our attention that there are many cats receiving only a yearly F3 vaccine whose lifestyle puts them at risk of getting FIV. Please check your vaccine certificate or call us if your cat goes outside. If they are not protected against FIV we would like to get them up to speed as soon as possible!
  1. Rabies: Not found in Australia!! However, Sandra at Summer Hill Village Vet is registered to administer the rabies vaccination to animals that are travelling to destinations overseas

Protecting Rabbits

rabbitCalicivirus: This is a fatal infection that causes sudden death in rabbits. All rabbits should be vaccinated against this. Due to a new strain being released by the government soon to control wild rabbits, it is now important that most rabbits be vaccinated every 6 months instead of every year. Please call Summer Hill Village Vet to check your bunny’s risk status.

Prevention is better than cure! If your pet is not up to date with what they need, or you are not sure what they need please call us on 9797 2555. Animals that are very overdue for vaccination may require extra boosters…